A new state lawmaker from northwestern Pennsylvania will be a guest at President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

State Sen. Scott Hutchinson, of Oil City, R-21st Dist., will be the guest of Congressman Mike Kelly tonight.

State Sen. Scott Hutchinson. Contributed photo.

Each member of Congress can invite one person to sit in the gallery in the House chamber during the president’s annual address. Kelly, of Butler, R-3rd Dist., extended the invitation to the freshman state lawmaker.

Hutchinson said in a statement that he was “pleased and honored” to get the chance to attend the address as Kelly’s guest.

“Over the years, the State of the Union Address provided a forum for the unveiling of presidential initiatives and served as the starting gate for public debate on those issues,” Hutchinson said in a statement.

“I sincerely want to thank Congressman Kelly for providing me with this unique opportunity to be a spectator this year,” he said.